Earle Bruce

Two Colorado State reserves on Tuesday supported allegations that fired football coach Earle Bruce physically abused players. Bruce was fired Nov. 23 for several alleged violations of university and NCAA rules, including allegedly physically and verbally abusing players and forcing some to play with pain and take injections of painkillers. "All the allegations they listed are true," said running back Pat Ingrassia. "I've been hit with a closed fist on one or two occasions by Coach Bruce.

University of Miami defensive coordinator Sonny Lubick became football coach at Colorado State on Monday, succeeding Earle Bruce, who was fired amid controversy last month. Lubick, 55, signed a five-year contract that will pay him a base salary of $100,000 annually. Lubick returns to the school where he was offensive coordinator from 1982-84. He previously was both an assistant and head coach at Montana State.

Earle Bruce, fired as Ohio State's football coach in November despite having won 75% of his games, has been named coach at Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Bruce, who has coached at Iowa State, said his ties in Iowa and with Eldon Miller, Northern Iowa basketball coach, brought him back to the state. "If this job were anywhere else but Iowa, I wouldn't be here," he said.

Earle Bruce, football coach at Colorado State, was fired Monday for creating what school officials said was a climate of "intimidation and fear." Bruce, fired by Ohio State in 1987, had two years left on his contract. He refused to quit Sunday during a meeting with university President Albert Yates. Bruce, 62, said Monday he intended to fight to keep his job. "I am not perfect," Bruce said during an emotional news conference.

Earle Bruce, a Buckeye forever, is wearing green and gold, teaching Ram Pride to a Colorado State football team that has gone 2-21 over the past two seasons. This is not Columbus, Ohio, and this is not Ohio State. That much is for sure. There are far fewer hands to shake and backs to slap, but don't think that bothers Bruce, who never has been much for that.

Somewhere, sometime Earle Bruce did something to get himself fired as Ohio State's football coach. Which takes us to that all-important $471,000 question: What did Bruce do to lose the only job he ever wanted? "If you find that out, then I want you to come back and tell me," said Bruce last week, sitting at home on a cold, blustery winter afternoon. He's in for a considerable wait, since the person who knows best why Bruce was fired on Nov. 16--Ohio State President Edward H.

They lifted Earle Bruce to their shoulders, victorious, as another, more famous team had three years ago. Colorado State raised Bruce high Saturday night. A team that was 1-10 two years ago beat favored Oregon, 32-31, in the Freedom Bowl at Anaheim Stadium. The Rams hadn't been to a bowl since 1948, when they lost to Occidental in Fresno's Raisin Bowl.

Colorado State starting quarterback Anthoney Hill agreed with two of his teammates who said former coach Earle Bruce physically abused players, and supported the decision to fire him. "As far as I'm concerned, hearing both sides I agree with the decision," Hill said.

Two Colorado State reserves on Tuesday supported allegations that fired football coach Earle Bruce physically abused players. Bruce was fired Nov. 23 for several alleged violations of university and NCAA rules, including allegedly physically and verbally abusing players and forcing some to play with pain and take injections of painkillers. "All the allegations they listed are true," said running back Pat Ingrassia. "I've been hit with a closed fist on one or two occasions by Coach Bruce.

Earle Bruce, fired as Colorado State coach, acknowledged committing NCAA violations and punching players. Bruce said he violated rules about days off for players and off-season coaching, according to a story in the Coloradoan in Ft. Collins on Thursday. The school cited rules violations as a reason for his firing Monday. University officials said Bruce punched at least nine players "with a closed fist in unprotected areas of their bodies."

Colorado State officials released an extensive list of allegations aimed at supporting their firing of football coach Earle Bruce, including two alleged NCAA violations. University counsel Brian Snow and President Albert Yates said the allegations went beyond the physical and verbal abuse of Bruce's players. Snow said a university investigation revealed that Bruce violated NCAA rules related to days off for players and off-season coaching of players.

Earle Bruce, football coach at Colorado State, was fired Monday for creating what school officials said was a climate of "intimidation and fear." Bruce, fired by Ohio State in 1987, had two years left on his contract. He refused to quit Sunday during a meeting with university President Albert Yates. Bruce, 62, said Monday he intended to fight to keep his job. "I am not perfect," Bruce said during an emotional news conference.

This time, Earle Bruce isn't blowing any smoke when he praises a relatively obscure opponent. Arkansas State set school records for first downs (224), passes completed (120) and passes attempted (307) last season, and the Indians return 10 starters from that offense. "The only one that didn't return was their center," Colorado State's head coach noted. "That means that Roy Johnson, their quarterback, and Larry Harris, their running back -- who've been very good for them -- are returning.